Rough Holds

Stevie.....

Did I ever have an actual set in stone plan for my life? No. Did I ever picture being a single mom to the most awesome boy and moving back to Stone Valley with a guilty heart and an uncertain mind? Also, no.

Yet here I am, unpacking in my little rental house and making a plan for downright unfathomable confessions. But there's no need to head straight for the deep end right away, right? Get settled, get my feet under me, and then tackle the hard stuff.

It's a solid plan until I run smack dab into the last person I wanted to and he's staring at my boy like he's seen a ghost.

I get it, though, since I'm sure to him - that's exactly what he is.

Brandt.....

Being over thirty and feeling like I'm right back at the starting line of my life is a trip and a half. I'm back home on the ranch I grew up on after thirteen years in the service and everyone around me seems to have life figured out. Then there's me, trying to pretend like I know what I'm doing.

My best friend Riley and I enlisted straight out of high school but after seeing a folded up flag get handed to his mom, it was time to stop running from the hard stuff and come home for good. But what once felt like a loving and happy place now just feels like loss. I'm an outsider in my own world.

The only thing that's felt familiar since being back are the unmistakable eyes of my best friend but they belong to the small child I just ran into at the grocery store. Two questions play on repeat in my head.

When did Stevie have a kid? Why is he identical to Riley?